PERHAPS it indicates the growing sophistication of Irish based industry, but the National Microelectronics Research Centre at University College Cork is branching oiit more and more into industries other than microelectronics.
Set up 15 years ago, its original aim was to promote and develop the indigenous electronics sector. This was to be accomplished by building up expertise (mostly through participation in EU projects) that would be transferred to industry - through contract research, consultancy, training - providing PhD graduates attuned to the industry, and general collaboration.
The strategy must be working, because the centre now has a staff of 200 and an annual budget of £7.5 million.
"While we intend to continue to focus on helping the microelectronics industry, we also plan to open out to the more traditional industries such as food, medicine and the environment," its director, Professor G. T. Wrixon, said last week at the opening of the centre's £2.5 million extension. "Microelectronics is migrating to other areas, and we look forward to fulfilling the promises that it can make."
One example is sensor technology development for the food industry. The centre is working with the National Food Biotechnology Centre at UCC on systems to read the total protein, fat and water content in milk.
"Eventually, it should be possible for the farmer to deliver a tanker of milk and to be given a slip saying these are the readings for your load, and this is what your load is worth," said Dr William Lane, the assistant director.
"At the moment, monitoring is mainly by batch sampling, and there is very little in line monitoring so the amount of storage and spoilage can be large. Process operators would like to be able to dial up the food condition at any stage of the process."
Sensors can also be used in monitoring heart behaviour and other health indicators, and for assessing pollutants in the environment. But this market is very fragmented, according to Dr Lane. To address this, the NMRC has been sponsored by Analog Devices, the Limerick based integrated circuit producer, to develop a general purpose transducer element. This feeds a signal into a computer and is designed to work with biological, chemical and pressure signals.
A key technology here is called silicon surface micromachining, and its application to a new type of sensor structure. Such a transducer would have wide uses and could open up new commercial possibilities for Analog Devices.
Analog Devices also contributed to the cost of the new extension, as did General Instrument, the power semi conduct or manufacturer based in Macroom, Co Cork.
With its specialist wafer growing facilities and its activities in silicon devices, silicon processing, materials, computer aided design, gallium arsenide technology, and its educational activities, the centre works on a wide variety of projects for industry, in Ireland and abroad.
The NMRC has carried out work for 120 Irish companies, and also works on several EU and European Space Agency contracts.
The 20,000 square foot extension is in an 18th century building called the Lee Maltings. Although the extension will house administrative offices, it will free up more space for the technical activities in the centre.